Dems for Education Super

Phoenix, AZ – In fact, Slade Mead and Jason Williams found a lot ofcommon ground. For example, both oppose the use of theAIMS test as a graduation requirement -- somethingpushed by incumbent Republican Tom Horne to ensure adiploma means students have learned what they weresupposed to learn. Mead called the whole thing acharade.

(They cut the math high school AIMS test from a 70percent to 59 percent for passage. He doesn't tell youthat part of the story. They eliminate third year mathquestions, high school math questions. He doesn't tellyou about that part of the story.)

Horne later told Arizona Public Radio the change inpassing score was done over his objection, as was astate law to give students bonus points for passinghigh school courses. Where the two Democrats differ isbackground, with Williams saying he has the edge havingbeen a teacher.

(I really think we have to ask ourselves the questionof who should lead Arizona's schools moving forward,another politician or an experienced educator. And wecan no longer afford to fail thousands of our childrenevery year.)

Mead is a sports agent but noted he has been on aschool board and was a legislator for two years servingon the Senate Education Committee. In Tempe, forArizona Public Radio this is Howard Fischer.